This week’s Misfit Entrepreneur is Mitch Russo. Mitch is the president of Mindful Guidance, a company that works with high net worth individuals who want to turn their passion into revenue on the coaching side. Before that, Mitch built and sold a software company for 8 figures and was partners with Tony Robbins and Chet Holmes as the CEO of Business Breakthroughs International - which he guided to over $25 million a year in revenue. He is also the founder and host of the Your First Thousand Clients podcast.
Mitch has won many awards and has been nominated twice for the Entrepreneur of the Year award by INC Magazine. He is also the best selling author of The Invisible Organization.
Mitch knows how to scale a business and build a tribe better than anybody and I’m excited for him to share his best advice with you in this episode.
Mitch grew up never really fitting in. He was a smaller kid and didn’t play sports. He was a quiet kid and didn’t get invited to parties. So, he started a rock band to meet girls. He learned a lot about himself and business, especially in how to promote and market – making the band the highest grossing rock band in the area.
Later, he found himself working for others and found jobs to be unsatisfying and would make it tough to reach financial independence. So, he started buying real estate – until his first building caught fire. But, he got up from that, dusted himself off and had great success in real estate. But, he was still working at a job until finally he had his first big idea. The idea was to build a software to solve a problem that everyone had and it became Timeslips Corporation.
At the 6:30 mark, Mitch take us through the process from of how he took Timeslips Corp from idea to success.
How did you build and run a 300-person company from your spare bedroom?
What should people know about building and creating lasting, scalable systems?
Thoughts on hiring?
Mitch offers two of his articles at www.MitchRusso.com on his blog called “Salesforce 101” and “How to Hire a Sales Superstar”
Talk to us about your new business and how you are getting to your goal of 100,000 clients?
At the 33-min mark, Mitch talks about building out certification programs with 3-5% of your client base and the amazing impact that type business model can have.
What are the steps of creating a certification program?
3 keys to proper training:
Always remember that it all comes back to your mission and the systems you build to create it.
Best Quote: “Nothing is impossible, but instead it is probable…”
Mitch's Misfit 3:
This week’s Misfit Entrepreneur is Jay Wong. Jay went from sleeping on his parents couch to running a successful media company and becoming a force of impact in the world. Jay is the host of the top-rated podcast, the Inner Changemaker, which has been ranked as the #1 self-help podcast on Itunes. He is also a top-rated speaker and was just ranked as a Top 40 Millennial influencer to follow in 2018. He speaks to audiences throughout the world on how to have an impact and inspire creativity.
I have had the chance to share the stage with Jay and can say that his emotional intelligence and awareness in the moment is tremendous. He seems to not only know what to say, but how to say it and how to connect with the audience almost immediately.
It is this deep understanding of himself and understanding of how to manifest your vision in life that really made an impact on me. Now, I want him to do it for you…
Jay Wong TV (Youtube)
Jay started on his parent’s couch. Before that he was vagabonding in Asia for about 14 months. When he got back, he had nothing and had to move in with his parents. It was in his parents living room where it all started for Jay. He had no idea how to share his message and had to figure out how to share his vision and mission with the world. Through a lot of work and trial and error, he figured it out and slowly began to gain traction – and The Inner Changemaker was born.
What is a Changemaker and why are they so important in the world today?
What did you experience vagabonding through Asia for a year + teach you about life and yourself?
At the 14 min mark, Jay and I have a great discussion about my DCP formula and how it weaves through life. How does someone find themselves if they are in a job or have life circumstances where they can’t travel the world for a year? How do they do it in their everyday life?
At the 18-min mark, Jay talks about “dating yourself” to learn self-love and spend time with “me”
Book: The One Thing by Jay Papason
At the 23 min mark, Jay talks about his philosophy of how you feel every moment is more important than what you do or have.
What can people do to take control and put themselves in a state of momentum and winning?
At the 35 min, Jay talks about his 60 min momentum calls and how in just that short amount of time, he can help people get clarity and an a plan to implement and get going.
Other advice for entrepreneurs?
Best Quote: “People need to stop reacting to life and instead focus on the things that they can control and can affect in their life. Be in motion and get in the game. Get going on becoming who you are destined to be.”
Jay's Misfit 3:
This week’s Misfit Entrepreneur is Tom Ziglar. Tom probably doesn’t need much of an introduction as CEO of Ziglar Inc one of the most renowned training and personal development organizations in the world. I was fortunate to have the opportunity in my youth to study directly with his father. Zig Ziglar. Tom has carried on Zig’s legacy and taken the company to even new heights.
Tom is one of the most sought after thought leaders and speakers by billion dollar companies, smaller business owners, prestigious institutions, and people looking for inspiration, motivation, and hope.
Tom and Ziglar Inc. are focused on success, significance, and legacy, the latter of which I really want to dig into with Tom in the episode…
Tom and I discuss how the Ziglar firm started as a support mechanism for Zig for his speaking and grew from there. It was a vehicle to meet the needs and solve the problems of people that needed encouragement and promise for success with a plan. It is estimated that the organization has impacted over 250 million people throughout its life.
Over the last 7-8 years, the company has gone through a transformation to maintain its impact and relevance in today’s world. The mission hasn’t changed because it is timeless and that is simply that “You can get what you want if you can just help enough other people get what they want.”
How has Ziglar Inc. navigated the change and transition to stay relevant today?
“It’s more difficult to transition or reinvent a company than it is to start from scratch…”
People are on a journey and follow a path that looks like this:
What is the most important piece of advice you received from your dad from a fatherly standpoint?
It seems so simple that what you put into your mind and the way you think will determine your results, but why do so few actually realize this and take advantage of this power in their lives?
At the 16 min mark, Tom goes into detail in answering this question
“To get the most out of life, you have to make a habit out of putting the right things in your mind, educational and inspirational to help you get through the challenges when they come up. And something is really a habit when you can recognize when you go through a day and miss it and feel like the day is not complete without it.”
At the 21 minute mark, Tom shares his “Performance Formula”
A x E x S = P
Attitude multiplied by Efforts multiplied by Skill equals Performance
At the 28 min mark, Tom shares his Live to Win Philosophy
The fastest way to success?
Replace a bad habit with a good habit
Ways to sustain motivation?
What have you found that truly matters?
At the 43 minute mark, Tom explains how anyone can create a lasting legacy
At the 49 minute mark, Tom goes his through process of Engage, Equip, and Transfer
Best Quote: “To get the most out of life, you have to make a habit out of putting the right things in your mind, educational and inspirational to help you get through the challenges when they come up. And something is really a habit when you can recognize when you go through a day and miss it and feel like the day is not complete without it.”
Tom's Misfit 3:
Hello Misfit Nation! Welcome to another edition of "Lessons for Hannah!"
In November of 2016, we introduced a new format that we are putting alongside our regular episodes called “Lessons for Hannah.” Hannah is my daughter and one of the main inspirations for the Misfit Entrepreneur. I wanted to have a place where she could go and learn from her daddy and his Misfit friends throughout her life….even after I am gone. If you haven’t listened to the first episode of "Lessons for Hannah," I urge you to as it gives some more background and tells the amazing story of how Hannah came to be in our lives.
"Lessons for Hannah" are short, very useful, and sometimes comical lessons, that I have learned which I want to share with you and give to Hannah to help in your lives. Because I want Hannah to have these for her life, I’m going to speak as though I am talking directly to her. These episodes are a lot of fun and if you think there is a lesson that we should include in these episodes, please don’t hesitate to send it over to us at support@misfitentrepreneur.com. We’d love to share it.
This week’s Lesson for Hannah
Hannah,
I want to share with you something that up until recently, I had practiced, but wasn’t full aware of. And as you are probably sick of hearing me say at this point in your life, Awareness is the catalyst to change.
What I became acutely aware of after going back through many of my writings, lessons I have documented from those I’ve learned from, and from reflecting on the biggest triumphs I’ve had in life, is a very simple formula to succeed at anything.
It’s been right there the whole time, yet I just never wrote it down.
You see, it takes many things coming together to succeed, but they all fall under three specific categories of action – what I call the 3 ingredients to success or DCP.
The “D” stands for Discipline.
Discipline is your ability to manage yourself and do the things you need to do to succeed and win. It is one of the hardest ingredients for people to do. Discipline takes sacrifice. It takes overcoming your own mind's conditioning, habits, and the inertia of life. It means doing things when you really, really don't want to or feel like doing them - no matter what. Whether you are sick, hurt, on vacation, whatever; your ability to maintain your discipline and routines and what you know you need to do to succeed cannot falter. You’ve asked me before, why I still wake up early or go on my long runs and follow my exercise routine while on vacation – now you know why. It keeps my discipline.
It may not sound like fun when described that way, but that is what it takes. And it really is fun. When Michael Phelps got in the pool on Christmas Day for 4 hours of training, he knew that it was this discipline and the actions he was taking right then and there that were the difference at the finish line. The difference between winning and losing. And that energized him and fired him up. How about you, sweetie? Can you up your game when it comes to your discipline?
The “C” stands for Consistency.
Consistency goes hand in hand with discipline. You can be disciplined - for one day. But that isn't going to give your what you need to win. You must be consistent. Every day. Consistency is what breaks down barriers and wears out competition. It is how you outlast - even if you are not as talented. Those that are consistent in their routines, in the quest, and who they are win. Period.
Ask yourself, "Am I consistent in the way I approach my success? Can I count on myself to always be there and stay the course?" If you are honest with yourself, it may surprise you and also show you some things you may need to change. Just remember, consistency is key to lasting success.
The “P” stands for Persistence.
Alongside having solid discipline and an unwavering consistency, you must be persistent. How does being persistent differ from discipline and consistency? Well, discipline is what you do. Consistency is how you do it. And persistence is your commitment to doing it. As mentioned above, you can be disciplined and consistent for one day, a week, a month, etc. But persistence is your unwavering commitment to keep going in spite of challenge, fear, emotion, and all obstacles that come your way.
Many people can be disciplined and consistent for a short time, but when they run into real, serious adversity, they stop or give in. This is where your commitment, your persistence pays off. You will keep going where others fail or give up.
When you put them all together, you can see why they are the critical ingredients they are. They feed off each other. If you have discipline to do the things you need to succeed and are consistent each and every day in doing them...and then persist through any adversity that comes up as you are going, you will win. And you will win consistently. It seems so simple, doesn’t it? But, it isn’t. To maintain all 3 is the real secret you must figure out for yourself in your life – and I know you will. Lastly, always remember that when you encounter a challenge, your ability to persist through gets you one step closer to your next goal or level and keeps you on the path to realizing all the potential you have in this world.
I love you, Daddy.
Best Quote: "Awareness is the catalyst to change..."
Misfit 3:
This week’s Misfit Entrepreneur is Jeremy Ryan Slate. Jeremy is the founder of the Create Your Own Life Podcast and Command Your Brand Media. Create Your Own Life is One of the top-rated podcasts out there today. He’s been featured in INC, Forbes, and countless other media outlets and is rated as a top Millennial Influencer to follow by Buzzfeed.
But I know it didn’t start out that way for Jeremy. In fact, it started with a near death experience followed by a career shift and struggles as an entrepreneur before he found his way.
Today, in addition to running a great show, Jeremy teaches others how to position themselves and grow their personal brand. There are ton of topics we explore in this episode together.
@JeremyRyanSlate on all Social Media
How Jeremy got to where he is today doesn’t match up. He started out getting a degree in world religion and studying at Oxford. He got his Masters and was on a path to be a college professor. But, it did not happen. He was passed over for a position. He then got a job as a teacher while working a few others jobs putting in almost 16 hours a day. He got burned out. His mother, who he is very close to, then had a stroke and it really woke him up. His wife was presented with a network marketing opportunity which was a new thing to Jeremy, but to him it looked easy. He thought he was going to be a millionaire overnight and wasn’t. He was successful and did it for two years – but he burned himself out again. He then did a bunch of odd things like selling life insurance. After all of this he finally figured out what he was good at and truly wanted to do which is where his podcast and business today comes from.
Jeremy notes that when looking back at his path, nothing seems to make sense, but in reality, in each of the things he did, he learned vital skills that help him succeed in his companies today.
Through your own experience and interviewing many of the highest performers in the world, what would you say is the most important thing that you have learned about entrepreneurs and entrepreneurship?
Most important thing you’ve learned about yourself from your journey?
Jeremy is the type that has felt he has to do everything.
He has learned that people that can build systems and groups, enabling others allows your business to truly grow.
You have to get past you and relinquish your need to be in control of everything and do everything.
Jeremy has a great saying “Fill yourself on the organizational chart as you climb it.” Meaning that every time you create a role type in your business, learn it, systematize, and then teach it to someone to fulfill and move onto the next role. Create the position and then fill it.
Did you ever hit a bottom? If so, how did you handle it?
In 2013, he was living at home still, working out of his basement, and not doing as well as he wanted. He got a credit card statement that rocked him since he really couldn’t pay it. It caused him to ask himself what he was doing wrong. He asked himself, “Maybe I’m wrong? What am doing that is causing this?” It was this time of self-reflection that led to the self-awareness needed to pull him out and change things to make a difference in his life.
At the 16 min mark, Jeremy gives more detail of what he learned about himself and changed which made a huge difference in his success.
At the 21 minute mark, Jeremy talks about how the Create Your Own Life podcast came to be and his other businesses.
Best advice for growing a brand and profile online?
First step for the small pond is to send a press release to your local news sources. Jeremy talks about this at the 32 minute mark.
Advice for entrepreneurs starting out today?
At the 37 min mark, Jeremy talks about the power of having a good fitness routine and how it correlates to success in business.
Best Quote: "We are cause over things that happen in our lives. We have to stop thinking that we are victims and things happen to me, but instead, things happen because of me."
Jeremy's Misfit 3:
This week’s Misfit Entrepreneur is Dana Malstaff. Dana is the founder of the Boss Mom movement. It all started with her best-selling book, Boss Mom: The Ultimate Guide to Raising a Business and Nurturing Your Family like a pro. Today, Boss Mom is a company serving other boss moms all through the world through programs, events, and the wildly popular Boss Mom podcast.
Dana has been featured everywhere from Fast Company to INC, and I have been fortunate to share the stage with her. She brings an energy, passion, and insight that few can rival.
She has built an amazing community and systems for her business that allow it to continuously scale and those are just a few of the many items I want to cover with her today.
Dana says her story isn’t unique, but I’ll let you be the judge. When she started she felt like she was alone, but also felt like her story had to be other people’s stories. So, she had to share it. She became a mom and an entrepreneur on the same day, literally. The day she quit her job, she conceived her son.
Dana says that owning children and owning a business is so similar to raising children. They grow the way babies do and give you all of the fits, challenges, tribulations, feelings of not knowing what you are doing…and everything in-between.
She felt really alone because none of her friends were doing what she was doing. She went through her first year having a success and a ton of failures both as an entrepreneur and a mother. It wasn’t until a little after a year in, when she moved to San Diego and was surrounded by an environment where others were like her and building businesses while being parents, that things started to click.
Being in this environment made her stop feeling alone and different, but invigorated. As she began to network and meet other entrepreneur-moms, she realized that the majority of them didn’t really know how to truly build or run a business.
That is when she decided to write Boss Mom and start the movement because that is what she is good at – building a business operationally and strategically.
Once the book was published, it took and the movement did as well.
What is the best piece of advice you would give all Boss mom’s out there?
What was the first day at Boss Mom like?
Quick Tip: At the 14-min mark, Dana talks about the “buttons” she uses on her website and the interesting names she gives them and why. Her tip could really help the engagement on your website.
Take us through how you learned to scale Boss Mom and how others can use what you’ve learned:
At the 18-min mark, Dana walks through the above in detail and talks about the difference between “Dream-makers” and “Deal-Breakers”
At the 24 min mark, Dana talks about creating your “Movement Manifesto.”
Answer the following of yourself:
At the 26:40-mark, Dana gives her manifesto/motto Facebook groups, you’ve cracked the code.
What is the strategy you can teach Misfit Nation to maximize their use in growing a business?
What is allowed, not allowed, how will people feel valued and part of the system?
First 2-3 steps for newbies:
Other tips on building a tribe?
At the 35-min mark, Dana gives her blueprint for the “Free to Paid” Journey Advice for an entrepreneur starting out today and for a seasoned entrepreneur?
Most important thing you’ve learned about yourself?
The journey is what is most important, not the outcome
Best Quote: “The learning is in the doing…It’s not about clarity. It’s about the direction and the framework.”
Misfit 3:
This week’s Misfit Entrepreneur is Steve Olsher. Steve is known as America's reinvention expert. He has done it all. From being one of the early web entrepreneurs in the 90’s to creating massive financial deals to being a best-selling author, top influencer and radio personality – there is little that has he as not accomplished. I’ve gotten know Steve well over the last year and was even honored to attend and present at his New Media summit.
But, like many entrepreneurs, how Steve got to where he is full of twists, turns, and incredible lessons on how to succeed and win in life. He’s helped tens of thousands of people all over the world recognize and maximize their “what,” their singular gift that they can use to turn their dreams into reality.
Steve is known as Mr. Bold and after our time together today, I think you’ll understand why.
Get a FREE copy of Steve's #1 NYT Bestselling book at www.WhatisYourWhat.com
Steve says he got to being where he is by being a Misfit. His journey has been full missteps in a lot of ways. It these missteps that he credits with getting him where he is at.
At the 6 min mark, Steve tells the story of how he started in the web in the early 90’s creating some of the first online stores and secured the domain Liquor.com. In 1998, he bought Liquor.com for $7500 which was a good amount of money for web address back then. By March 2000, they were doing millions in sales and were ready to IPO the company.
It was bad timing as the markets literally crashed and by this time, Steve had signed away the bulk of his control to Wall Street. He gave up his management rights. And then when the company couldn’t go public, he was stuck holding the bag with his hand completely tied. After 9 years of hard work, he walked away from everything.
In 2005/2006, he tracked down the domain and convinced the owner and get it back after a long process and reclaim it. He then put it up for sale and got an offer for $4.25 million, which he took, only to have to buyer default after a couple payments. So, he took the domain and rebuilt the company around it to what it is today.
He uses this as a lesson that if you stay the course and pursue your goal, it will eventually work out. It may not work out as you planned, but it will work out for you.
At 13 min mark, Steve tells the story of how he got into the real estate markets. After walking away from Liqour.com, he got into real estate development. He would buy older buildings, refurbish them, and then turn them into different types of developments and did it up to 2008/2009. Once everything imploded in that world, he had to give properties back to the bank, go through litigation for over 5 years, and lost almost everything.
You can reinvent your life on a dime.
You must answer the core question of “What is your what?”
Many people are spending their time support other people’s “what” and that adds up to a tremendous amount of time you cannot get back, so figure out what is your what and focus your time to get it.
How does someone get the true answer of their “what?”
What is the most important thing you’ve learned about how to succeed along the way? What is the most important thing you’ve learned about yourself?
Other advice?
Best advice to succeed and build a business today?
Thoughts on creating and maximizing a niche?
Steve uses a great example of niche in this section starting at the 41 minute mark
Best tips to grow an audience and get found?
Final advice?
At some point, you have to move beyond free.
You can’t cheap it out
You will need to invest in education, mentorship, or coaching to get you from point A to B to help you succeed at higher levels and accelerate your success– you can’t get it just from videos on the net.
Best Quote: "Don't live for a day in the future that may never arrive..."
Steve's Misfit 3:
This week’s Misfit Entrepreneur is Akshay Nanavati. Akshay is a former Marine Corps veteran, adventurer, speaker, and author of the best-selling book Fearvana: The Revolutionary Science of How to Turn Fear into Health, Wealth, and Happiness.
The Dalai Lama said, “Fearvana inspires us to look beyond our own agonizing experiences and find the positive side of our lives..”
Through his work, Akshay has been featured on CNN, Fast Company, INC, Entrepreneur, Forbes, and almost all of the major news outlets.
Simply put, Akshay has faced and stood down fear and learned how to bend it to his will. Fear is something everyone faces and struggles with in some form or fashion, and for some time I have wanted to do a show where we dive deeply into facing our fears and overcoming them. When I met Akshay, I knew he was the guy to do it!
Akshay and the Fearvana movement really started in high school. He wasted a year of his life with drugs and lost two friends. It was the movie “Black Hawk Down” that triggered to get out of his selfish, meaningless life he was in. He went to join the Marines, but it too a year and half to get in because of blood disorder he has. He had to fight his way in and once in he started to learn how to push himself and started to explore other ways to do it. Outdoor extreme sports became his playground.
He was then sent to Iraq where his job was to clear IEDs. When he returned, he had trouble and was diagnosed with PTSD. He started drinking and go to the brink of suicide.
When he hit that low, he knew he had to change and learn to heal himself and learn to lead a meaningful life. He began to study it and learned how to manage and control his fear and harness it to his advantage. Fearvana and the business he has built around it came from this journey.
What is the one thing people should know about fear and how to use it to their advantage? T
he single most important thing is that it is not a negative emotion. The reality is that we just have emotions – it is us who choose whether to view them as negative or not. You must build a positive relationship to suffering. If you can, you can do anything in life.
At the 7 min mark, Akshay answers the question, “What is it about fear that paralyzes people and makes us react the way we do to fear? What do we actually have to overcome?”
You do not want to miss his answer…
How does somebody recondition themselves to use fear to their advantage?
At the 10 min mark, Akshay gives a great example of this with his PTSD and how he used this process to overcome it.
“There is no such thing as irrational fear…”
Does fear masquerade itself as other things in our lives?
“The biggest thing that separates peak performers is that they don’t stress over stress”
Take us through the Fearvana process?
5 steps: The Unstoppable Warrior Formula
At the 18 min mark, we discuss how to get people to the action step quickly. Why is there a disconnect from when we recognize things to actually acting on them? Akshay gives a number of examples and what to do.
One key is to work your way up the ladder of fear. Put yourself in incremental levels fear as you progress. What has surprised you to most in all of your work with fear?
How much everyone is suffering In their own way. We tend to think we are the exception and the “odd one out,” when in reality we all are suffering in some way. People should take comfort in that. Even the people you look up to have their own levels of suffering, but there is a gift in that when we learn to find it and embrace it.
At the 25 min mark, Akshay talks about the post fear process.
What is the most important habit and how do you break any habit at will?
At the 31 minute mark, Akshay talks about his routines and how he sets them up.
There has to be something you are truly afraid of??
What have you learned in becoming an entrepreneur that is important to share?
Other resources you used to develop the Fearvana Philosophy?
Best Quote: “The balance of action and awareness is ultimately how all growth happens…”
Akshay's Misfit 3:
Hello Misfit Nation! Welcome to another edition of "Lessons for Hannah!" In November of 2016, we introduced a new format that we are putting alongside our regular episodes called “Lessons for Hannah.” Hannah is my daughter and one of the main inspirations for the Misfit Entrepreneur. I wanted to have a place where she could go and learn from her daddy and his Misfit friends throughout her life….even after I am gone. If you haven’t listened to the first episode of "Lessons for Hannah," I urge you to as it gives some more background and tells the amazing story of how Hannah came to be in our lives.
"Lessons for Hannah" are short, very useful, and sometimes comical lessons, that I have learned which I want to share with you and give to Hannah to help in your lives. Because I want Hannah to have these for her life, I’m going to speak as though I am talking directly to her. These episodes are a lot of fun and if you think there is a lesson that we should include in these episodes, please don’t hesitate to send it over to us at support@misfitentrepreneur.com. We’d love to share it.
This week’s Lesson for Hannah
Hannah,
I want to speak to you about something that I am extremely passionate about. It is one of the biggest habits of the highest achievers throughout history. And thankfully, I found it at an early age. I hope you will do the same.
I’m talking about self-education and lifelong learning. I’m not talking about school. You are going to school, or maybe even by the time you listen to this will have gone to school and maybe even college.
Here is what I want you to know about traditional school…and it’s somewhat controversial. First, it’s not enough. Going to school will give you a great base of subjects and concepts for you to build on the rest of your life, but it is only the beginning. Your real education will begin when you decide to self-educate or get into the real world. And that brings me to my second point which is that going to school and college doesn’t adequately prepare you for the real world you are going to step into. In fact, they teach you a lot of things and condition you to the opposite of what works in the real world.
Let me give you an example. In traditional school, if you are taking a test and you lean over to your friend next to you asking them for help or thoughts on one of the questions on the test – the school will tell you that is cheating and punish you for it. That is not how to real world works. In the real world, it is the opposite – you get the best and brightest you can find in a room together and have them figure out the best solution and answer to things….and when they do and it generates the desired results – you reward them.
Don’t get me wrong, going to school will teach you a tremendous number of things, one of the most important learning to read. Once you learn to read, it not only opens a whole new world but a whole new world of possibility to you. Sadly, most take this for granted and never grow beyond their traditional schooling.
And that is the difference between the majority of the highly successful and everyone else. They realize the importance of self-educating and continuous learning and growing. One of my favorite quotes is from an old personal growth expert (well, old to you) named Jim Rohn where he said, “Successful people have libraries. The rest have big screen TVs.” Such a major distinction.
But, here is my best advice for you on your learning journey. Don’t take what you read or learn for granted, on your own or in school. Question it with boldness, seek the truth, challenge yourself and assumptions you make. And I will caution you that this will get you into trouble at times. No one likes it when the status quo is questioned, especially in traditional school. But, if we didn’t have people that challenged the conventional norms and ways of thinking, we would have 90% of the things we take for granted in this world. Most of the major innovation comes from directly challenging what society tell us is how things should be. Just know that mommy and I will always have your back – so question away!
There are a lot of books out there, especially when it comes to history, that don’t tell the truth or leave out very important details and this is why reading multiple sources on a topic is so important. You will start to notice patterns and things that are consistent that you can test and prove out. And I think that is probably one of greatest parts of lifelong learning – you can always surprise yourself and have breakthroughs in all areas of your life.
In the show notes of this episode, I have put some of my favorite books for you to check out, when you are ready. Never stop learning, growing, questioning, challenging, and searching….
I love you, Daddy.
Selected Book Recommendations (Hannah, just ask me for others as there are too many to put here!):
The Holy Bible - The greatest story ever told and a book that sets the basis for almost every lesson you can learn for life and success. Whether, you believe in God (which I do) or not, the wisdom in the Bible is timeless...and endless.
The Richest Man in Babylon - A parable that teaches the bedrock of sound wealth. Ironically, you will find much of the same lessons in the Bible
How to Win Friends and Influence People - Timeless book on how to engage, motivate, and work with others
The 5000 Year Leap - I consider this the beginners guide to understanding the principles that founded the United States of America and that created the Constitution, a document that after many years of study, I have come to believe is one of the greatest creations of mankind.
Think and Grow Rich - Great book. Compiles much of the wisdom from history and the Bible for how to create wealth and achieve your dreams. Another easier one to read that covers a lot of the same things is Secrets of the Millionaire Mind (this book gave me a lot of epiphanies when I read it at 21)
Rich Dad, Poor Dad - Hannah, I will have taught you the concepts this book shares by the time you are old enough to read it, but it is a must read at some point. Talk about questioning the status quo and introducing you to entrepreneurship - this is a good one
The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership - Timeless lessons on leading yourself and others
The Ten Year Career - Ok, I know it is a little self-serving to put my book in here....but honey, it is pretty good and will give you a good idea of many of the things I've learned and used to build the life we have. :)
There are so many amazing books out there. My best advice is to read a broad range from the classics, to history to personal growth. In fact, here is a list of the classics that I found that is really good...
This week’s Misfit Entrepreneur is Nischal Shetty. Nischal is the founder of one of my favorite social media management tools, Crowdfire. Crowdfire is a social media manager that helps your manage across all social accounts, grow your impact, audience, and message, and helps you to engage more fully with your tribe.
Millions of people and companies use Crowdfire for their social media growth and engagement.
Nischal not only founded Crowdfire, but physically built it, boostrapped it to its first million in revenue, and took the service from 0 to over 15 million users without spending any money on marketing or advertising. In fact, he developed a unique marketing strategy called ETC to achieve this, which is just one of the things I want him to share with you today. For his efforts, not only does he have a great company to show for it, but has also won a number of awards, including being chosen as a Forbes 30 under 30. I am really excited for you to learn from him.
Twitter @NischalShetty
FREE Gift for Misfit Nation!
Go to Misfit.CrowdfireApp.com for 3 months of Crowdfire FREE
Nischal says he is an “accidental entrepreneur.” He was an engineer that wanted to create some extra money, so he created a blog because he had heard you could make money doing it. After blogging every day for a month, he realized that “just blogging” doesn’t guarantee success. So he started researching and spending time learning how to market his blog and get his message out. That lead to him building the first version of Crowdfire. He used that to grow his blog and eventually put it out there for others to use and was amazed at how many people used it.
He then bootstrapped it for the next year and then quit his job to go full time. That was 6 years ago and Crowdfire had about 500,000 users. Now it has over 15 million users and employs 45 people.
Nischal credits his entrepreneurial streak to his father – a restauranteur, but it was never forefront until much later. The building blocks were always there, but it took him some time to realize it.
What is the most important thing you’ve learned about yourself in your journey?
At the 7:20 mark, Nischal and I discuss his way of thinking like a contrarian and turning whole business models upside down.
Lessons learned from bootstrapping Crowdfire to its first million?
Thoughts on creating community?
What does it take to build a successful company?
Thoughts on building a company culture?
At the 21 min mark, Nischal discusses the ETC strategy and how Crowdfire used it to go from 0 to 15 million users with no marketing money spent.
ETC stands for Ego, Temptation, and Curiosity
What trends are changing in social media? What’s working?
Best quote: “Everything good or bad in a company starts with the founders...”
Nischal's Misfit 3: